Belt buckle



March 30, 1965 F. cARAvELLA BELT BUCKLE Filed 001,. 9, 1961 INVENTOR. FRANK CARAVE LLA ATTORNEY United States Patent O M 3,175,233 BELT BUCKLE Frank Caravella, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner of one-half to Anthony Bellanti, Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,763 3 Claims. (Cl. 714.25)

My invention relates to belt buckles, and more particularly to a belt buckle that serves a plurality of purposes.

When liquid refreshments are being served at outdoor -occasions or even indoor occasions, quite `frequently a can piercing device or a bottle opener are not available. In order to always have such devices on hand, I have provided a device in the form of a belt buckle, that may be Worn at all times. It is formed integrally in a manner that permits it to be used as a bottle capremover, or can piercing device without any changes, additions, or movable parts. It has means for removing a bottle cap at one end, means for piercing a can at the other end thereof and means for removably associating it with a belt portion to hold the belt together thereby enabling the belt to function as a normal belt buckle.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a device which can serve a plurality of purposes that is of one piece construction.

Another object of my invention is to construct a one piece unit that will function as a belt buckle, a can piercing device and a bottle opener.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device having all these features, whose function as a can piercing device and a bottle opener will in no way interfere with its function as a buckle, or with its general appearance as a buckle.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described, that is equipped with sufficient surface space, to permit application of an ornamental emblem, or advertising media.

Other and yfurther objects of my invention will become more neadily apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of my device as applied to a portion of a conventional belt.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of niy device, taken on lthe line 2--2 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

`FIGURE 3 is a top view of my device when it is detached from a belt portion.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of my device, taken on the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIGURE 3.

FIG. 6 is a side view of my device being applied to a beverage can shown in phantom, illustrating the leverage provided when piercing the upper surface of a can.

FIG. 7 i-s a similar view of my device in position to remove a cap from a bottle shown in phantom.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout .the several views, the character 10 shows `generally the body of the device constituting my invention. My device is constructed of a single piece of metal, blanked and formed as a unit, having all the functional parts integral therewith.

As illustrated the body 10 is radially formed, and it has a V shape which terminates into a point 11 at its forward end. A rectangular opening 12 is disposed therethrough to form a frame consisting of two side portions 13 and `13 and a rear portion 14, the rear portion 14 being shown with a depressed bubble por-tion 15 protruding therefrom.

3,175,233 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 ICC The opening i2 has a first projecting tongue portion 16 extending inward and bent downward at 17 for engagement with one of the openings or apertures 18, of a belt portion i9, to which my device is to be associated.

lAnother projecting member, the second `projecting tongue portion 2t) is blanked out at Z1, Afrom the body of my buckle l0. The tongue portion is formed at 23 similar to the rst tongue portion 16 so that it engages one of the openings 18 of the belt portion `19, when positioned properly.

Referring to the cross-sectional view illustrated as FIG- URB 2, it is seen that a loop 24 of the belt por-tion 19 encircles the rear portion .14 of the belt buckle 10. The loop` 24 is formed by folding over one of the ends of the belt l@ and attaching the end of the belt to itself with conventional engaging snaps Z5. The other end of the belt, shown as 19', is guided into the opening 12 formed by the buckle body it) so that the rst tongue portion 16 enters one of the openings 1S of the belt 19, and the `second tongue portion 20 enters another opening 18 of the belt 19. 'Dhe extreme end 19" of said other end of the belt can then be threaded through a retaining loop 26 forming a part of the belt assembly. Thus it is seen that my device functions effectively and efiiciently as a belt buckle.

In FIGURE 6, I show the manner in which the body 10 is employed when piercing a beverage can, or the like, shown in phantom as 27. The bent portion 23 of the second projecting tongue portion Ztl is placed beneath the bead 218 of a can 27 and the point i1 is forced downward to pierce the iiat cover 29 of the can 27.

In FIGURE 7, I show the method employed in using rny device when removing the cap 30 from a bottle 31, also shown in phantom. The bent portion 17 of the tongue i6, is placed below the flanged portion of the cap 30 and the `bubble portion I5 of the rear portion I4 is placed on the upper surface of the cap 30 and when the pointed portion ll of the buckle 10 is raised, it will remove the cap 3i) from the bottle 31.

If desired an ornamental identication emblem Sii?,` may be placed over the openinng 21 as shown in FIG..1 and FIG. 2. The plate or emblem may be atached in any convenient and efficient manner.

From the above description, it will become manifest that the device is practical as a belt buckle and in addition thereto provides additional functions and although I have shown a particular construction, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made in the shape, form and configuration of the device without elfecting its operativeness and I reserve the rights to make such changes without departing from the spirit of my invention of the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A belt buckle intended for use with a belt having spaced apart perforations proximate to one end thereof, said belt buckle also being utilized both as a can piercing device and bottle opener, comprising: A pointed tip at one end thereof for piercing cans, a rst projecting tongue portion disposed in proximity to said pointed tip, for cooperation with said tip in order that said tongue portion can be utilized to grip the bead of a can while said tip pierces said can, said first projecting tongue portion protruding downward and toward said pointed tip, said buckle having an opening with deiining sides at the other end thereof, a second projecting tongue portion extending from one of the deiinirig sides of said opening, said one of the defining sides of said opening being the closest defining side to said first projecting tongue portion, `said second projecting tongue portion projecting downward and opposite in direction from said first projecting tongue portion and being disposed to cooperate with the dening sides of said opening to remove a bottle cap, `said projecting tongue portions being spaced apart at the saine distance as the perforations in the beit, whereby said tongue portions also function as a pair `of latching means with relation to the `belt by protruding through adjacent perforations of the belt.

2. A belt buckle, as defined in claim 1 wherein said belt buckle has a yradia1 contour to conform to the Waist ofthe wearer thereof.

3. A beit buckle as deined in claim 2 wherein there is a bubble portion extending from `oneof the defining sides of said opening and being'disposedto cooperate with said second tongue portion to enable removal 'of a bottle cap.

References Cited in lthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A BELT BUCKLE INTENDED FOR USE WITH A BELT HAVING SPACED APART PERFORATIONS PROXIMATE TO ONE END THEREOF, SAID BELT BUCKLE ALSO BEING UTILIZED BOTH AS A CAN PIERCING DEVICE AND BOTTLE OPENER, COMPRISING: A POINTED TIP AT ONE END THEREOF FOR PIERCING CANS, A FIRST PROJECTING TONGUE PORTION DISPOSED IN PROXIMITY TO SAID POINTED TIP, FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID TIP IN ORDER THAT SAID TONGUE PORTION CAN BE UTILIZED TO GRIP THE BEAD OF A CAN WHILE SAID TIP PIERCES SAID CAN, SAID FIRST PROJECTING TONGUE PORTION PROTRUDING DOWNWARD AND TOWARD SAID POINTED TIP, SAID BUCKLE HAVING AN OPENING WITH DEFINING SIDES AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, A SECOND PROJECTING TONGUE PORTIUON EXTENDING FROM ONE OF THE DEFINING SIDES OF SAID OPENING, SAID ONE OF THE DEFINING SIDES OF SAID OPENING BEING THE CLOSEST DEFINING SIDE OF SAID FIRST PROJECTING TONGUE PORTION, SAID SECOND PROJECTING TONGUE PORTION PROJECTING DOWNWARD AND OPPOSITE IN DIRECTION FROM SAID FIRST PROJECTING TONGUE PORTION AND BEING DISPOSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE DEFINING SIDES OF SAID OPENING TO REMOVE A BOTTLE CAP, SAID PROJECTING TONGUE PORTIONS BEING SPACED APART AT THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE PERFORATIONS IN THE BELT, WHEREBY SAID TONGUE PORTIONS ALSO FUNCTION AS A PAIR OF LATCHING MEANS WITH RELATION TO THE BELT BY PROTRUDING THROUGH ADJACENT PERFORATIONS OF THE BELT. 